Health & Wellness

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Try a Healthy Argentinian Favorite: Chimichurri

Chimichurri, a marinade and condiment, is an Argentinian favorite that is loved for its full flavor and complementary abilities. This sauce is the perfect accompaniment for chicken, fish, pasta, sausages, and steaks. And from a health standpoint, chimichurri is loaded with good-for-you benefits, including calcium, carotenes, iron, and vitamins A and C (from the parsley) and calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamins E and K (from the oregano), as well as heart-healthy garlic and the monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, which may help to lower total cholesterol.
Chimichurri Sauce
Ingredients
1 Fresno chile, finely minced
1 small shallot,...

DIY Sports Drinks

If you're into sports and working up a good sweat or you've experienced dehydration from having a fever and not drinking enough fluids, you may know that when you lose body water you also lose electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals found in body fluids that conduct electrical signals in the body that help maintain muscle function, body fluid levels, blood pH, and more. If you drink sports drinks and you're trying to cut back on sugar - which can be found in many bottled sports drinks - you can make your own at home with just a few ingredients? Here are...

How-To Make the Perfect Salad

"Salad" can be a tricky word when it comes to "healthy." The definition for salad is either a mixture of raw green vegetables or a mixture of small pieces of raw or cooked food. It sounds healthy, but it's not always the case. Salad dressings like blue cheese and ranch can be high in fat and sodium, Southwestern salads can be high in calories when served in a tortilla bowl and chock-full of cheese, dried fruit can be loaded with sugar, and salads that contain protein like "fried" chicken tenders can be high in calories as well.
If you...

All-Purpose Lemons

From lemonade to lemon meringue pie and lemon chicken to lemon vinaigrette, lemons can be found in a wide variety of dishes and drinks that showcase the incredible, unique flavor of this humble citrus. But did you know that lemons are also used for things other than to add great flavor? Here are some uses for lemons that you may find helpful in the kitchen.
Crisp lettuce. Need to revive lettuce leaves? Add 1/2 cup lemon juice to a bowl of cold water; add lettuce leaves to water and place bowl in the refrigerator for one hour.
No-crack hard-boiled eggs....

Better Fried Foods

Fried chicken or grilled chicken? Mozzarella sticks or string cheese? French fries or baked fries? Given the choice between fried foods or better-for-you foods, many people would choose fried foods without blinking an eye. There's something about the crunch of potato chips and the taste of natural sugars after they have caramelized from frying that makes them hard to resist. But did you know there is a healthier way to eat fried foods? It all depends on technique and using the right oil.
If you want to address your fried foods addiction, you should consider eating fried foods at home,...

Try Your Hand at a Homemade Cold-and-Flu-Buster Tea

Being sick is bad enough, but when you add the same old, same old over-the-counter medicines it gets downright boring. The next time you find yourself sniffling and feel a cold coming on - and before you find yourself in your horizontal office - you should make a homemade cold-and-flu-buster tea. You may not feel up to par, but there's something about making a tonic from scratch and with fresh ingredients that provides a bit more comfort when you're feeling under the weather.
Cold-and-Flu-Buster Tea
Ingredients
1/4 cup coriander seeds
1 (1 1/2”) cinnamon stick
1 bunch rosemary, rinsed...

Portion Control = Weight Control

When it comes to weight control, portion control is one great way to keep unwanted pounds at bay. Take note of these serving size examples (in case you find yourself somewhere where measuring tools are not available) to help you gauge how much you should be eating. WARNING: Some of these serving sizes may come as a surprise to you, especially if you eat out a lot and are familiar with serving sizes that some restaurants take to the tables.
Bread — One serving size of bread (1 piece of bread, 1 waffle, or 1 pancake) is about the size...

Comfort Foods Made Diet-Friendly

Do you remember your first bite of one of your favorite comfort foods, like, say, fried chicken? Discovering a taste bud-altering comfort food can cause you to vow to eat it every day for days on end. (But you shouldn’t!) Almost every true foodie loves classic comfort foods, but not everyone loves the calories that come with classic comfort foods. Here are eight classic comfort foods with healthy twist ideas. And these lightened up versions taste good!
Broccoli Soup — Add potatoes to broccoli soup to thicken it up, and use reduced-fat sour cream to add rich flavor.
Chicken Noodle...

If you're trying to be more conscious of what you eat but you have a hard time counting calories and scrutinizing what you consume, you may benefit from this list of food swaps. It's really just a matter of buying the healthier versions but this list is a good place to start.
Instead of bacon, eat lean ham or turkey bacon.
Instead of butter, eat light spread margarines.
Instead of canned cream soups, eat canned broth-based soups.
Instead of chicken or turkey with skin, eat chicken or turkey without skin.
Instead of chocolate or yellow cake, eat angel food cake....

Meatless Monday: Middle Eastern Rice Salad

If you make Meatless Monday meals, you know how easy it is to mix up your meatless menus. Thanks to all of the food variations you have to work with, from ingredients to global cuisines, it seems like Meatless Monday options are endless. Take your taste buds to the Mediterranean with this flavorful dish that uses fresh, healthy ingredients. Garbanzo beans are a wonderful source of fiber and offer a unique supply of antioxidants. Brown rice is a great source of both fiber and selenium.
Meatless Monday: Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
¾ cup thinly sliced...

In Season

May is the gateway to summer--it is a month that can start off raining, but always seems to end with sunshine. The days are continuing to get warmer and longer, and we are enjoying a wider selection of fresh produce. May is also National Barbeque Month, so if you have not already been outside grilling, there is no excuse to delay any longer. This is a test.